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Who needs a DH? Giants to bat Madison Bumgarner in an AL park

By Dan Schmelzer

Aug 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) hits a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) hits a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite having a designated hitter option, the San Francisco Giants will let Madison Bumgarner hit for himself on Thursday night.

Madison Bumgarner is one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball, and the San Francisco Giants are going to let him hit for himself on Thursday night, forgoing their option to DH for their pitcher. The Giants will become the first team to opt against a DH when given the opportunity since 1976.

Giants’ manger Bruce Bochy gave a simple answer for the decision he made, according to Chris Haft of MLB.com. “He’s a good hitter, he’s dangerous and we’re facing a lefty.”

Bumgarner will face off against Oakland A’s pitcher Dillon Overton, as he tries to pitch and hit his team away from avoiding a four-game sweep.

With tremendous raw power, Bumgarner is one of the best pitchers with a bat in his hands in baseball. His numbers are down a bit this season, as he is hitting .175/.261/.350 on the season, but he has hit two home runs in only 40 at-bats.

Bumgarner has won the National League Silver Slugger the past two seasons, hitting a combined .252/.280/.469 with nine home runs in 2014 and 2015. He has a chance to go deep at any point in the game, and Bochy does not want to lose his potentially impact bat in the Giants’ lineup.

As a right-handed batter, Bumgarner certainly hits left-handed pitching well for a pitcher, but his career numbers between against lefties and right-handed pitchers are relatively neutral.

He does show a bit more power against a left-handed pitcher over the past few seasons, but not enough to make that the deciding factor. Simply put, Bochy believes that having Bumgarner in the lineup is better than having somebody from their bench hit.

I am not sure that shines a bright light on the Giants’ offensive depth, but it is always fun to see their big ace pitcher swing the bat.

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